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BEFORE YOU BEGIN INSTALLATION
1. Go to the SteppIR web site at www.steppir.com and download the latest manual for your antenna,
and also the Operators Manual for the controller.
2. Read the manuals from cover-to-cover ---TWICE! Don’t just read them –Study them, so you are
familiar the terminology used about the antennas and have a good idea of how the antenna is as-
sembled and where the various parts go.
3. As you go through the manuals make notes of any instructions you may not clearly understand,
then call or email for clarifications. It is better to have it all sorted out before you start assembly.
We don’t mind answering your questions beforehand.
4. Now, wait for notification your antenna is being shipped.
5. If the antennas is to arrive on Wednesday----DO NOT plan an antenna party for Saturday!
6. Even if you plan to install the antenna weeks later, the first thing to do is to unpack the antenna
and do a complete inspection. Make sure nothing is missing or has been damaged in shipment.
7. Do a complete inventory of every part, nut and bolt. Yes it takes time, but it also allows you to noti-
fy SteppIR if anything is missing and allow time to get it to you before you start assembly of the
antenna. There is nothing more frustrating than realizing that something is missing, just hours be-
fore you want to install the antenna.
8. Go back to the SteppIR website and download the latest manual. SteppIR constantly is improving
and adding to the manual, so even though your paper instruction manual is going to have all the
data you need, it makes sense to check for the latest updates online. This is especially true If you
purchased the antenna and a period of time has passed between arrival and install dates.
9. Take the controller and power supply out of their wrappings and connect them. The controller does
not have to be connected to the antenna in order to familiarize yourself with it. In fact, it is best to
get familiar with the controller when it is not connected to the antenna. Turn on the controller and
read through the Operators Manual again while operating the controller in all it modes. Go through
the menus so you know what each does and how to navigate through the various menus and func-
tions.
10. Once the antenna is completely assembled and ready to mount on the antenna tower, use an an-
tenna analyzer, if you have one, to test resonance of the antenna.. If you don’t have an analyzer,
try to borrow one. It will save you a lot of time and worry. Check the antenna on each band for
some sign of resonance within the frequency range. Leave the antenna on the default frequency
and tune the analyzer to see where the dip occurs. It will be somewhere below the lower band edge
on each band with the antenna 3 or 4 feet above the ground on sawhorses. Also, don’t expect to
see a 1:1 SWR here, just look for a good indication of resonance.
11. DO NOT put the antenna up onto the tower until you are positive it is working correctly—this is
what these tests are helping you determine. Err on the side of caution.
12. Once it has been determined this part of the antenna is working correctly do the following: Select
the lowest band and establish the dip condition by tuning the analyzer. Do not touch the analyzer
again. Retract the elements and then reselect the same band. The antenna should come back to
very near the same setting. Do this 2 or 3 times on each band. Also, try going from the band being
tested to any other band and back again and observe that the antenna comes back to the same res-
onant point. Now you know the antenna is tuning correctly from band to band and is consistent.
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